Poster assembly jig



Feb. 23, 1954 s, BARNES 2,669,775

POSTER ASSEMBLY JIG Filed Nov. 30, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

004 410 5. awe/v55 Feb. 23, 1954 D. s. BARNES 2,669,775

POSTER ASSEMBLY JIG Filed Nov. 50, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.paw/P40 s. 54/? Feb. 23, 1954 D. s. BARNES 2,669,775

POSTER ASSEMBLY JIG Filed Nov. 30, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb.23, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE POSTER ASSEMBLY JIG Donald S.Barnes, Rochester, Mich.

Application November 30, 1951, Serial No. 259,109

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to display and advertising devices andparticularly to means for manu facturing a poster frame.

In recent years, the cost of manufacturing posters for display oncounters and in store front windows has risen considerably. Such postershave been in the form of a laminated sheet assembly consisting of amiddle sheet or board of relatively thick material such as cardboard andthin sheets of paper and the like adhesively secured to the oppositeside of the middle sheet. One of the outside paper sheets was formed orprinted with an advertising display and usually printed in color toincrease the attractiveness of the display. Means was usually providedon the opposite side of the sheet assembly for supporting the board inrelatively vertical position such as a cardboard easel fixed to the backside and swingable to a position perpendicular to the sheet assembly.Usually the posters were retained anywhere from a few days to a fewweeks in mercantile establishments and then thrown away. The increasedcost of such posters has made it difficult to continue advertising inthis manner.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel jig orfixture for rapidly producing the poster frame assemblies and forquickly changing the display of each poster assembly.

In carrying out the objects of the invention, the poster frame comprisesa base sheetframe along the margins of the front side-thereof byseparable frame members independently secured to the base sheet.overlying the front portion of the base sheet and having its marginsinterposed between the frame members and the base sheet is a thin papersheet bearing the advertising display therein. Simple wir staples arepreferred for securing all of the members to the assembly together in acompact poster assembly. The wire staples extend from the back side ofthe base sheet, through the paper sheet and to the frame members. Meansmay be provided on the back of the base sheets for mounting the posterassembly in upright position.

The poster assembly is produced on a jig or fixture which forms animportant feature of the invention. The jig is so designed that thevarious component parts of the poster assembly may be rapidly assembledin their proper relation and quickly secured together. The jig ingeneral comprises a base member or pallet, the upper surface of which isprovided with a rectangularly, shaped wall orboundary which projectsabove the base and forms an area therewithin approximately equal to thedisplay sheet to be incorporated in the final poster assembly. Centrallylocated inside of the raised wall is a platform which extends to aheight less than that of the wall and laterally just short of the sideand end sections of the wall. The platform cooperates with the raisedwall or boundary to form a continuous rectangular shaped grooveextending completely around the platform. The groove is arranged toreceive the separate members of the poster frame which are ultimatelysecured to the backing sheet of the poster assembly. The base of the jigis preferably provided with openings or holes at its corners forconveniently lifting a completed poster assembly out of the jig.

The jig may be constructed to form a poster assembly of a single size.However, an important feature of the invention is a modified jig orfixture which enables the same device to produce two or more sizes ofposter assemblies. The jig of this feature of the invention isconstructed in a novel manner for optionally enabling the user to formposter assemblies of several different sizes.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features of theinvention will become more fully apparent from the followingspecification, appended claim and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded view in perspective of the various elementscomprising a poster assembly and also showing the same in the relationto which they are assembled in the jig or fixture for securement to oneanother;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the jig or fixture showing a completedposter assembly therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig.2 and showing in dotted outline an operating end of a portable staplingmachine;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig.2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completed poster frame assemblyshowing the same in upright self supporting position;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view in section of acorner portion of the jig and showing parts of a poster assemblytherein;

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of a modified form of jig or fixture forproducing four or more sizes of poster assemblies;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal cross sece tional view taken alongline il--8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along line 9-9 ofFig. 7;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a further modified form of jig or fixturegenerally like that exhibited in Fig. 7 but capable of producing threesizes of poster assemblies;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of a jig or fixture of thepresent invention showing a modification thereof for receiving. anadditional display element;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a poster assembly constructed by themodified jig of Fig. 10; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view :taken along line l2--l2 of Fig.10.

A poster frame assembly produced by'the'jig or fixture of the presentinventionis illustrated in Figs. and 11. The final product as exhibitedin these two figures includes a frame composed of a pair of similar topand bottom frame members or: sections; I lie-l Grand a pair of'similar.side framemembers or. sections l:2=l2. The frame members- -:l.1!-|:e and12 512 :form a sight :area [4 within :which the display is exhibited..This display frame'may be. self supporting in.substantiallyuprightzposition by means .of arearwardly extendingbraceindicated. in dotted outline. at i 6 andsecureol to the backside ofthe-poster assembly. The poster: assembly, however, .may be. supportedin any other way and in .a relatively vertical. plane such as bybeingsuspended from an overhead support. or affixedto a wall.

Fig. -1 illustrates 'in perspective an exploded view of the elementsmaking-up the poster frame assembly and the jig or' fixture in whichthese elements are'brought together and secured. The frame members orsections previously described in connection withiFigs. 5.and 11 areshown. at l'O-I'O and l2-l2 in Fig. 1.. As is clearly evident in Fig.1,. these frame members or sections are separate or independent of .oneanother, i. e., they are not connected at their adjacent ends to oneanother as in conventionalframes of this character; Each frame memberisprovided with oblique end faces which may be cut at. a 45 degree anglewith respect to the longitudinal dimension of the sectionin-order tobebroughtup into right angular abutting relationship with the adjacentmembers to complete the frame'enclosure.

The poster frame assembly also includes a: base or backing sheet 18 ofrelatively sti-fi or rigid material. This sheet may be relatively thickcardboard such as chip board. This base board is preferably'rectangu'larin formation as shown in'Fig. 1 and of a size to be substantially equalto the area encompassedbythe frame sections -40 and [2-H when the latterare arranged in abutting relation to'one another. Fixed to one side ofthe baseboard l8, which side will be identified as the back side of theposter assembly, is the brace 16' already described in Figs. 5 and 1.1for supporting the poster assembly. This brace may be a block of wood orsimilar material cut to the wedge shape configuration shownin' Fig. 1and having one edge thereof abutting the back side of the base sheet l8with theedge of .the wider end extending perpendicularly to theboard andsubstantially flush with the adjacent edge thereof. Wirestaples,indicated atZt, are .employed to secure the .brace I6 to the base sheet.lf'he staplesmay bev driven in from the front. side .of the base boardand into the brace while the latter is held'against the back side of thebase board.

Interposed between the backing sheet i8 and the frame members Iii-40 andl2-l2 is a thin 4 sheet of paper or like material indicated at 22. It isupon this sheet that the display is printed or otherwise formed. Sheet22 may be of any commercial available printing paper such as employed inmagazines, newspapers and the like. It is quite thin and non-selfsupporting and can be produced and printed at comparatively low cost.The side of the display sheet 22 illustrated in Fig. 1 is the back sidethereof and in final .a'ssembled j'pos'ition will overlie the "frontside of the backing sheet I8. The display sheet'22 pref- .erably has thesame dimensions as the backing sheet so that in the final assembledposition of the= .parts': its margins will be interposed between thebacking sheet and the frame members ltl 0 -and-l*2=--l'2 as hereinafterdescribed. The display orad-vertisement is printed on the side of thesheet 22 opposite to that secured to the backingsheet [8.

The device or jig for assembling the component parts. of the. poster isgenerally. indicated at 24 in Fig. 1. Itcomprises-a. fiatzrectangularlyshaped base member or pallet 2.6 having .3, dimension greater than that.of the frame members Ina-l0 and"l2l'2 intheir assembled position. Themaper surface of the bas member, suchtaswthat viewedin Fig. I, isshaped. in a:novel manner to receive the separate parts oftheposter-assembly and to align. the'same withone anotheriforthe finalsecuring. operation. For this purpose,;ther.e isprovided a raised wallor boundary :-28'of.-rectangular formation and-which-may consist of fourstrips of wood or similar materialarranged as shown. in .Fig. '1 andidentifi'ed by the-reference characters 30-30 and. 3-2.--32.These-boundary strips are secure'dzto the upper surface of :the palletorbase 2.6 and constitute-a rigi'd form into which the parts of the:poster assembly arefitted. As shown in-Figs. 3, 4 and G'the strips3ii3flrand 32-32 are of similar-height-and rise toa height above thebase greater than the thickness .of the frame members Hi -I20 and i i-l2of'the poster assembly and preferably to a height equal to the combinedthicknesses of the iframermembers', display sheet and backing sheet ofthe "poster assembly.

Centrally located within the: rectangular form provided-by .the boundary28 .ofrthe jig is:a-'cen.- tral: member 34 ofrectangular formation whichis secured to the upper surface of the; :base 2.6 to forma raisedplatformithereon. As-fshown iniFig. :1; the platform member 3'4 has: a.rectangular formation less than that" defined by "the boundary 28 andisso disposed within .thezboundary asto provide. equal clearances onall. sides thereof. These. clearances. constitute upwardly openinggrooves connecting to one. anotheraat their ends. The platform member'3'4i is so dimensionally proportioned thatthe grooves providedbetween"thesameandithe boundary-.28 are of a size tov permit theframemembers-liI-M and [2-42 to "be dropped and fitted thereinto withnoor" very little play. The platform member'3-4 is secured to the basein asuitableaway such as bythe-screws-36 located at the corners thereof.The platform rises to a; heightilessthan theboundary members as shown"in .Figsnieand 6 and preferably the thickness of the frame members [0-40and l 2-l2'for purposes'hereinafter described.

In addition, the jig 21 is preferably provided with means for"facilitating removal of timessemb-le'd poster frame. There is shown in"Fig. 1 and also in'Fi'g. 4, means in the form of holes 38 located at-thefour corners of the base' 26 and opening into the corner connections oi.the grooves formed by the boundary 28 and the platform 34. As will bedescribed hereinafter these holes or openings permit a finger such asindicated in Fig. 4 to be inserted thereinto from the bottom side of thebase in order to lift the assembled poster out of the jig.

In forming the poster assembly, the fram members Iii-40 and l2l2 aredeposited into the connected grooves formed between the boundary 28 andthe platform 34. In so doing, the mitered ends of the frame members arebrought into substantial abutment and over the holes or openings 38. Theframe members have a thickness equal to the height of the platform 34and cooperate with the latter to form a flat area within the boundary28. The display sheet 22 is then placed into the boundary 28 and overthe platform 34 and the frame members. Its side and end marginalportions overlie the frame members as is evident in Fig. 3. Thereafterthe relatively rigid backing sheet I8 is laid upon the thin displaysheet 22 between the strips forming the boundary 28. The thicknesses ofthe parts of the poster assembly and the jig are so related that whenthe backing sheet 18 is fitted into the jig its rear face extends flushwith the boundary strips 351-40 and 3232 as is evident in Fig. 3.

It is desirable in most instances to provide some means thereon forsupporting the poster assembly in substantially upright position. Inorder to attach the brace [5 or other similar means to the backing sheetHi from the front side thereof, it is desirable to perform thisoperation before the backing sheet is placed in the jig. The brace isshown as stapled to the backing sheet. As is evident in Figs. 1 and 3the staples extend through the base sheet from the front side and enterthe adjacent side edge of the brace to hold the latter against the backside of the base sheet.

With the parts of the poster assembly fitted within the boundary 28 ofthe jig, it is possible to quickly secure these parts together into aunitary assembly by means of a portable stapling machine. The machine ismoved around the exposed back side of the backing sheet I8 andparticularly at the cornerareas thereof to force or punch staplesthrough the backing sheet, display sheet 22 and the separate members ofthe poster frame. Staples which are to be forced through the cornerareas of the back sheet are shown at 40 in the exploded view of Fig. 1.A portable stapling machine is shown in dotted outline at 42 in Fig. 3.This machine is used to drive the staples through the backing sheet andinto the frame members, the combined thickness of all the parts beinggreater than the entering prongs of the staples so that the latter nevercompletely penetrate the frame members. Thus, as shown in Fig. 3thestaples 40 penetrate through the base sheet l8, the poster display sheet22 and part way through the frame members Ill-l0 and l2--l2. The staples40 serve to secure the parts of the poster assembly together andparticularly to separately join the frame members 10-!!! and |2l2 to thefront side of the display sheet 22 so that when the assembly is liftedout of the jig it has the framed appearance illustrated in Fig. 5.Constructed and formed in this manner, the frame members Ill-l 0 andl2-l2 are not secured to one another as is customary but are positionedwith their ends in substantial abutment simulating such end to endconnection.

,, Fig. .5 shows a completed poster assembly fitted withinthe boundaryof the jig and preparatory.

to being lifted thereout. Although the brace l6 may be gripped by theoperator to assist in removing the frame assembly from the jig, it is tobe preferred in view of the tight fit that may occur in the jig toemploy finger pressure through one or more of the holes 38 asillustrated in Fig. 4 to lift one or more corners of the poster assemblyout of the jig.

Figs. 7 to 9, inclusive, illustrate a. modifica-. tion of the inventionwherein a jig or fixture is constructed and arranged to form two or moresizes of poster frame assemblies. The jig is generally like that shownat 24 except that it encompasses a larger area and is subdivided intosections for forming poster assemblies of .differ-. ent sizes. The jigof Figs. '7, 8 and 9 comprises a base member or pallet 44 similar to themember 26 of the earlier described form of jig. Ris-.

ing above this base member and forming a rectangular outline is aboundary member consisting of oppositely disposed side and end strips46-46 and ill-48. These strips correspond 'to the boundary strips 3li30and 3232 previously described and like the latter rise to a heightapproximately equal to the combined thickness of all the parts of theposter assembly. The area encompassed by the boundary strips of themodified jig is preferably approximately four times that of the jig 24previously described.

The interior of the modified jig is designed to receive posterassemblies of different sizes. There is provided for this purpose arelatively large platform member 56 occupying almost half of the area ofthe jig. Two similar platform members 52 and 53 of slightly difierentdimen sions occupy a little less than the remaining half of the jig. Theplatform members 50, 52 and 53 correspond in function to the platform 34of jig 24 and like the latter are preferably designed to rise to aheight less than the boundary strips 46-45 and 48--45 and approximatelyequal to the thickness of the frame members of the poster assembly.

The largest platform member 53) and the two smaller platform members 52and 53 are arranged in spaced relation to the boundary strips as shownin Fig. 7. In this manner the platform members cooperate with theboundary strips to provide upwardly opening grooves for receiving theframe members of the poster assembly. The platform members are spacedapart from one another greater than the widths of the grooves separatingthe members from the boundary strips. A single relatively long dividingstrip 54 extends between the largest platform member 50 and the twosmaller platform members 52 and 53. The function of the dividing strip54 is similar to the boundary strips of the jig. However, it extends toa height less than the boundary strips and preferably no higher than theplatform members as shown in Fig. 8. The transverse strip 54 is equallyspaced from the platform memhere to provide upwardly opening grooves orchannels on each side thereof for receiving the frame members ofdifferent sizes of poster assemblies. Similarly, there is provided arelatively short dividing strip 56 between the two platform members 52and 53 as shown in Fig. '7, the strip being equally spaced from theplatform members to provide upwardly opening channels or grooves forframe members of the small sizes of poster assembly. Like the dividingstrip 54 the shorter dividing strip 55 extends to a height approximatelythatof the platform members as shown in Fig. 9. It is evident in Fig. 7that all of the grooves are interconnected with oneam other so thatregardless of the selected size or sizes of the poster assemblies to beassembled, the mitered ends of the frame members may be: brought intosubstantial abutment with one an.- other.

The platform member 52 and the adjacent surrounding boundary anddividing strips is equivalent in area to that of the j 24 previouslydescribed. Thus, if desired, the upper right hand quarter section of theJ'ig shown in Fig. '7 may be used to produce a poster assembly like thatdescribed in 00111160131011 with Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive. Using the jigof Fig. 7, the same operating steps are performed as in the previouslydescribed embodiment of the invention. The frame members are droppedinto the upwardly opening chan, nels or grooves surrounding the electedplatform member 52 and then, thereafter, the separate members of theposter assembly, such as the flexe ible thin sheet 22 and the backingsheet [8, are superimposed on the platform member with the marginsthereof overlying the frame members in the grooves. The various parts ofthe assembly are then stapled together in the manner previouslydescribed and then removed with the jig.

. While one size of frame assembly is being mounted and secured in thismanner in one quarter section of the jig in Fig. '7 a smaller size 11 ofposter assembly may be formed on platform 53 of the lower right handquarter section of the jig as viewed in Fig. 7. At the same time aposter assembly approximately twice as large as either one of thesmaller sizes may be formed over the platform member 50 on the left halfsection of the jig shown in Fig. 7. Or, if desired, two posterassemblies of the same size may be formed on the right and left handsections of the jig, the assembly formed on the right section extendingover both platforms 52 and 53. Likewise, however, the entire area of thejig encom+ passed by the boundary strips 46-46 and 48-43 may be used toproduce a large poster assem bly, being approximately four times aslarge as the poster assembly formed on either of the platforms 52 and 53and twice as large as the poster assembly formed on the platform 50.Several other different sizes of poster assemblies may be formed on thejig of Fig. 7 by using frame members and poster sheets which occupy anarea including the platform member upon which they are to lie as well asthe adjacent dividing strip either 54 or 56. For example, the posterassembly normally intended to overlie the platform members 52 and 53 aspreviously described may be widened to overlie the dividing strip 56therebetween to utilize the groove on the side of the strip opposite tothe selected platform for one of the frame members. In a similar manner,the poster intended for assembly on the platform 50 may be widened sothat one of its longer frame members may lie on the right hand side ofthe dividing strip 54 rather than the left hand side. It is thusapparent that approximately seven different sizes of posters may be madeon the jig or fixture arrangement shown in Fig. '7 and that three ofthese poster assemblies may be made at the same time, if desired.

The dimensional relationship of the parts of the jig in Fig. '7 are suchthat in the production of the various sizes of the poster assemblycertain of the frame members for one size may be utilized for framemembers of certain other sizes. Eor example, the longer frame membersfor the smaller poster assemblies formed on atforms 52 and 53 may beused interchan eably. More: over, the longest frame members for the twosmallest sizes of posters formed on platforms t; and 53 may also be usedas the shorter frame members of the poster assemblies of a size to beformed on platform 50. Similarly the longer frame members for the nextlargest posters formed on platform .50 or the combination of platforms.52 and 53 may be used as the shorter frame m mbers of the largest p ersize whi h requires the entire be for assembly. It. is thus ent h by theempl yment of the lie of Figs. 7 to 9. various sizes of poster asemblies can be made therefrom, and several simultaq neously. ifdesired, and that by the, interchange: able character of the framemembers for the $11 1: ferent sizes of poster assemblies there is a dis:tinot saving in material.

Fig. 10 illustrates a further modification of the, fix of Fig. 7 and onewhich is simpler in cons ruction and capable of producing three sizes ofposters. The jig comprises a base mem-v ber 52 similar to member 44 anda rectangular boundary strip 64 similar to the boundary strips 56:46 and.4843 of the previously described embodiment of the invention. Theboundary strip 64 rises above the base 62 and preferably to a height atleast equal to the combined thickness of all the members of the posterassembly to be formed within the area defined by the boundary strip.Within this area there are three raised platforms 66 and 68768 whichextend to a height less than the boundary strip 64 and preferably to aheight equal to the thickness of the frame members of the posterassembly. The three p tforms are separated from one another and theboundary strip by interconnected grooves ll), 72 and 1,4 which openupwardly and are equal in width to the frame members of the posterassemblies. These grooves receive the frame members of the posterassemblies in the manner previously described. The platform members 68-8are of the same size while platform mem ber 66 occupies an area equal tothat of both the smaller platforms .68? and the intervening groove 14,The jig of Fig. 10 differs from Fig, 7 by omitting the dividing strips54 and .58 and bringing the frame members closer together so that theyare separated by grooves of widths no greater than the frame members tobe mounted on the poster assemblies.

The lie of Fig. 10 is capable of producing one z of poster assembly at atime. A smallest size poster assembly may be formed on either of theplatform members 68-768. A next larger size of poster assembly may beformed on the platform member 56 or over both of the platform members68-458. The largest size of poster assembly may be formed over all ofthe platform members 68 and 68-68 and within the area. defined by theboundary strip 54. As in the preceding embodi ment of the invention,certain of the frame meme here for one size of poster may be used forthe next larger size of poster. For example, the longer frame members ofthe smallest size of poster assembly formed on either platform member68-68 may be used as the shorter frame m b of t e medium ize po terformed on p a fo m 66- In a lik manner. the longer frame members of themedium size poster formed on platform 6.6 may be used as the shorterframe members of the largest poster assembly.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 illustrate the minor modifiea'tion of the jig andthe poster assembly produced thereby. As shown in Fig. 11 one boundarystrip, such as one of the boundary strips 30 of the jig 24 may be cutaway to form an upwardly opening slot 58. The slot extends approximatelyflush with the platform member 34 of the jig. The opening or slot 58 isused to receive a short extension to the poster assembly which projectsbeyond the boundry of the jig and in finished condition forms a tab forthe poster frame. The poster assembly is mounted and secured in themanner previously described except that after the thin display sheet 22is placed in the jig and before the backing sheet I8 is overlaidthereon, an extension in the form of a thin fiat cardboard 60 is laid inthe slot with one end section thereof sandwiched between the displaysheet and the backing sheet. The opposite end section extends throughthe slot 58 as is evident in Fig. 12. When the parts of the posterassembly are stapled together and removed from the jig, the result isthat shown in Fig. 12 wherein the extension 60 forms a card or tabprojecting from one side of the frame and upon which printed materialmay be placed if desired.

What I claim is:

A jig for aligning and assembling the parts of a framed postercomprising, in combination, a base member having a relatively fiat uppersurface, narrow strips of uniform width and height being secured to theupper surface of the base 10 member and arranged in a rectangularforma-- tion with their ends abutting one another so as to form a raisedboundary on the base member. a platform member of rectangular formationand dimensionally proportional to that of said boundary but occupying anarea slightly less than that defined by the boundary, said platformmember being centrally disposed within said boundary and secured to theupper surface of the base member with the edges thereof equally spacedfrom the boundary strips to form upwardly opening grooves therebetween,the upper surface of the platform member being flat and rising to aheight less than the boundary strips, and one or more apertures openingthrough the base member from the bottom surface to the upper surfacethereof and into the grooves formed between the platform member and theboundary strips.

DONALD S. BARNES.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 40,480 Hill Nov. 3, 1863 307,595 Shepherd Nov. 4, 1884 547,377Gillbee Oct. 1, 1895 2,245,363 Price June 10, 1941 2,377,904 Roach June12. 1945 2,588,810 Dietrich Mar. 11, 1952

